Method of and machine for forming, filling and closing containers

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF FORMING AND SEALING THE TOP CLOSURE OF A CARTON HAVING FLAPS AND TABS SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM THE BODY OF A CARTON BY SCORE LINES, THE STEPS OF INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING THE CARTON ALONG A LINEAR PATH INTO A PULRALITY OF PROCESSING STATIONS, SUPPORTING THE INSIDE SURFACES OF A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS OF THE CARTON BODY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE SCORE LINE SEPARATING THESE WALLS FROM A FIRST PARR OF OPPOSED FLAPS, BENDING SAID FIRST PAIR OF FLAPS INWARDLY WHILE SUPPORTING THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE CARTON BODY AGAINST INWARD MOVEMENT, BENDING A SECOND PAIR OF OPPOSED FLAPS INWARDLY SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE BENDING OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF FLAPS, BENDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED TABS OUTWARDLY AS SAID FLAPS ARE BEING BENT INWARDLY, HEATING ONLY THOSE SURFACES OF THE FLAPS AND TABS WHICH WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE SEALED TOGETHER, ENGAGING UNHEATED SURFACES OF SAID FLAPS TO FOLD THE HEATED SURFACES OF THE TOP CLOSURE TOGETHER, SUPPORTING THE UNHEATED SURFACES OF SAID TABS, APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE FLAPS AGAINST THE RESISTANCE OF SAID SUPPORTED TABS TO